The next morning Hermione was up, dressed and glaring at her fireplace as she paced in short quick steps in front of it.

"I am a grown woman," she said to the flames. "I have responsibilities and I will not let one almost night of passion derail me from carrying out those responsibilities. Ever Sunday for years I've been going to the Burrow for lunch. George and his perfect body will not stop me!"

Determined to act her normal, prompt self, Hermione scooped up some floo powder and soon found herself in the Burrow's kitchen. She brushed the dust and ash from her clothes and turned her attention to the room. She was usually the first to arrive. Not today.

Fred and George stood by the stove, talking quietly while their mother watched suspiciously from another counter where she was chopping apples up.

"Hermione!" she cried happily, spotting the young woman. The twins paused in their conversation to throw her a quick 'hello' before continuing their stirring and the talking.

"Fred and George were over first thing to help," Mrs Weasley said and there was nothing hiding the suspicion that edged that statement. They may be successful businessmen, one a husband and father, but nothing could ease their mother's worries or reservations. "Keep an eye on them," Mrs Weasley whispered to her before she set her wand on the large dishes on the table, directing them into the air and out the door.

Hermione didn't have to look to know what the back yard looked like. Family meals were never small but with most of the Weasley children married and breeding like rabbits, there was no way they would have all fit in the kitchen. Soon the large back yard would be filled with tables and chairs, toddlers and babies would be perched on hips, in high chairs or sprawled out on blankets.

As soon as his mother was out the door, George stopped stirring and turned to Hermione. Instinctually she took a step back. Hermione studied his face, the serious set to his mouth, his eyebrows drawn together in concentration, and fought the urge to flee.

George watched the panic and fear dance across Hermione's face and, with a bit of effort, relaxed his expression into something more neutral.

"Can we talk?" George asked quietly. Hermione glanced over his shoulder to see Fred watching them. His attention was completely on them and he didn't realise that the spoon he was stirring with was now hovering a few inches above the saucepan, circling through thin air.

"Sure," Hermione squeaked out. George took her elbow in his hand and led her through the hall to his father's study that he had added on the year before. He closed the door behind him and indicated for Hermione to take a seat on the couch, he sat on the edge of the desk facing her.

"I'm sorry about last night," Hermione said before George could begin. "That was unforgivable. Laying all that on you and then leaving you in the middle of… when you were still…" She hadn't intended on saying anything and now the words rushed out of her mouth. "I worked very hard to ensure you never knew how I felt and if it's all right with you, I'd like to just pretend last night never happened."

She watched as George watched her. He studied her carefully, his blank face giving nothing away. She felt herself blush under his intense scrutiny.

"I can't do that," he said finally. "You see, it took all my will to not rush after you last night and then when I woke up first thing this morning all I wanted to do was see you. Fred thought I had lost it but now that he's thought about it, he knows what I know."

"What do you know?" Hermione asked, hope blooming in her.

"You've opened my eyes and I know that I was a fool and you were standing right there the whole time and I could never see it."

He expected hugs, kisses, smiles. He expected her to run into his arms and confess her love. He did not expect her to burst into tears and run from the room. Obviously she didn't believe him. He was going to have to take drastic measures.

"Right," he said, coming up to where Fred was stirring the sauce. "We do it your way. Put it in."

"Are you sure?" Fred asked, taking out the phial of orange liquid.

"I'm sure," George said firmly, nodding to emphasize his point. "Do it."

The first indication that something was up was George and Fred's snigger as everyone eagerly tucked into the Apple Pie. Fred and George laughing right after you ate something was never a good sign. The gathered crowd's fears were put slightly at ease as George himself finished his slice in record time. Those same fears shot through the roof – rather the shade tent Bill had set up – when Fred flatly refused to have anything to do with the pie.

Mrs Weasley was on her feet and screeching before anything happened. Halfway through her lecture though she stopped dead and turned to Harry.

"I know you didn't spend last night in your own bed Harry James Potter. It's about time you made an honest woman out of my daughter!" The male Weasleys turned as one to glare at the raven haired man, now cowering behind his blushing girlfriend.

"Fleur is pregnant again!" Bill announced.

"I snuck off to see a Football match last week," Mr Weasley confessed.

"Ginny, will you marry me?"

One by one, every one was forced to reveal something, some things were sweet, some embarrassing. Charlie's fiancé revealed she didn't want to live in Romania which saddened Charlie but cheered everyone else up.

Finally it was down to George, Fred and Hermione. Fred was immune, not have eaten any of the Apple Pie laced with the secret revealing potion.

Hermione coughed once as her will battled against the potion trying to force out her secret but it was a well brewed potion and before she could escape, the truth was flowing from her mouth.

"I've liked George for months and last night we nearly had sex."

A stunned silence greeted her ears as the group turned from her to George and back again.

"Hermione is perfect for me. I love her."

George didn't know the truth of the words until he spoke them. He was oblivious to his family as he met Hermione's eyes across the crowded table.

"It's the truth," he promised.

She stared hard into his face, searching, before flashing him a blindingly happy smile.

"I believe you."